The Wavro Blog
Rota planning, labour cost and working time rules, written for the people who run small UK shift teams.
Clinics
Clinic reception cover: what to do when a room cannot go empty
How to set minimum cover per session in a dental, physio or private clinic, handle holiday clashes and break cover, and avoid paying for last-minute agency staff.
By Wavro team · 7 min read
Gyms & studios
Early open, late close: rota patterns for a 15 hour gym day
How to staff a 6am to 9pm gym without breaching the 11 hour rest rule, plus cover for freelance instructors and last-minute no-shows.
By Wavro team · 6 min read
Salons & barbers
Salon no-show cover: split shifts, on-call pay and the rules that apply
How to cover no-shows with split shifts and on-call staff without breaching Working Time rules or paying for time you did not need.
By Wavro team · 6 min read
Retail
Staffing an independent shop around footfall, not opening hours
Most small shop rotas are built to the opening hours, not to when customers actually turn up. Here is how to read your own hourly pattern and reshape the quiet hours.
By Wavro team · 8 min read
General
UK rest breaks and rota rules every small shift team has to follow
The Working Time Regulations set minimum breaks, daily rest and weekly hours. Here is what they mean for a rota in a café, shop, salon, gym or clinic.
By Wavro team · 5 min read
Cafés & restaurants
Café labour cost percentage: what good looks like
Labour is the biggest controllable line in a café after stock. Here is how to work out your labour cost percentage, what the UK bands look like, and how to fix a high one.
By Wavro team · 4 min read